Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken

Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken is dredged in a flavourful flour mixture and then fried until the coating is crisp and the meat is tender. After that, coat it with a homemade BBQ sauce that is finger-licking good! Trust me, Jamaican KFC that is well-loved has nothing on this recipe you can make in the comfort of your home! This is the best way (and in my humble opinion, the only way) to enjoy barbecue fried chicken.

My family begs for it and yours will too. Now let’s make the best barbecue fried chicken!

Here’s Why You’ll Love this Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken Recipe

Amazing Texture – too many times I’ve encountered soggy barbecue chicken. This recipe ensures each piece of chicken is nice and crunchy before it is coated with sauce.
So Easy to Make – with simple step-by-step instructions, it has never been easier to learn how to make BBQ fried chicken.
Versatile – adjust the measurements in the homemade barbecue sauce to be as sweet or spicy as you like. Make your chicken super saucy, serve the sauce on the side or even enjoy the fried chicken as is, without it!

crunchy fried chicken pieces resting on wire rack.

What is Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken?

Flavourful fried chicken, tossed in a delicious homemade barbecue sauce is often referred to as Bar-B-Fried or Barbie Fry chicken by Jamaicans. It’s often inspired by the well loved Jamaican KFC BBQ chicken.

Some other common names for Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken are:

Barbie Fry Chicken
Barbe Fry Chicken
Barbe Fried Chicken
Barbi Fried Chicken
Barbi Fry Chicken
Barbecue Fried Chicken

What Makes this BBQ Fried Chicken Jamaican Style?

Jamaicans love thoroughly seasoned chicken and this bar-b-fried chicken is seasoned not once but three times; the chicken, the flour coating and the sauce. But what truly makes this a Jamaican recipe, is the flavours and spice. Sweet, tangy barbecue sauce isn’t complete without some hot pepper sauce. Hot pepper sauce is packed with spicy Caribbean flavour from Jamaican scotch bonnet peppers.

What’s Needed to Make This Recipe (Kitchen Tools and Equipment)

Deep Skillet or Dutch Oven – for frying the chicken. This works best as the high sides keep most of the oil’s tiny splatters contained within the cooking vessel, causing less mess.
Long Tongs (2 Sets) – one set to safely transfer the raw chicken into the hot oil as well as another set to transfer the cooked fried chicken to a wired rack.
Deep-Fry Thermometer – this is used to monitor the frying oil’s temperature as it will fluctuate with the different batches of chicken.
Saucepan – to cook the BBQ sauce from scratch.
Baking Sheets and Cooling Wire Racks – to allow the chicken to rest before frying, as well as another set to drain the oil after frying.
Digital Probe Thermometer – this will help you determine your chickens doneness, accurately, everytime.

Ingredients and Ingredient Notes

Barb-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken

Chicken Leg Quarters – bone-in, back attached pieces (or chicken legs and thighs). Bone-in chicken is always super flavourful and dark meat is moist, especially compared to chicken breasts or chicken wings.
Seasoning – I use a deliciously savoury blend that includes chicken seasoning (or Seasoning Salt /All Purpose Seasoning), paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and a chicken bouillon.

Flour Coating

Flour – this coating protects the chicken and prevents it from drying out during the frying process. It also provides a crunchy layer of flavour.
Cornstarch – when paired with flour, cornstarch prevents gluten development and absorbs moisture, which results in crispy chicken.
Seasoning – I use paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme and black pepper.

Bar-B-Fried Sauce

Chicken Stock or Water – for a liquid base.
Ketchup – this adds texture and a savoury sweet quality to the sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce – the umami flavour adds a delicious balance.
Brown Sugar – for a taste of molasses.
Honey – for that sticky sweet quality, this is a must.
Hot Pepper Sauce – this is a key ingredient. The heat perfectly balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. Use more or less, depending on how spicy you want your bar-b-fried chicken to be.
Fried Chicken Oil and Crumbs – this adds an unexpected depth of flavour, added texture, and helps to thicken the sauce.

seasoned flour for fried chicken coating.

chicken pieces cleaned and prepped in bowl.

How to Make Bar-B-Fried (Barbie Fry) Chicken

Prep and Season Chicken

Remove skin (optional) from chicken and trim any excess fat. Wash chicken with vinegar and/or lemon or lime and rinse with water. Pat chicken dry with paper towel and set aside.

Add a drizzle of olive oil to the chicken, and season well with seasoning salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and one crushed chicken bouillon cube. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes to overnight in fridge.

Dredge Chicken

In a large bowl, whisk together the ingredients to dredge the chicken – flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme and black pepper. Dredge or lightly coat the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Repeat for all chicken pieces, then transfer to a lined sheet pan with a wired rack and let rest for 5 minutes.

Fry Chicken

Add oil to a deep skillet or heavy bottom pot and heat over medium heat. Season the oil with one scotch bonnet pepper, and garlic. Once the garlic and pepper has browned, place each piece of chicken into the oil (work in batches if needed).

Allow the chicken to cook until one side is golden brown, then using tongs, carefully flip the chicken. Remove and place on a clean wired rack to drain excess oil once cooked through or an internal temp of 170°F (76°C) is reached at minimum – see notes section.

Sauce

Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium high heat. Allow sauce to reduce until thickened to your liking, then remove from heat and drizzle on chicken or serve separately and enjoy!

barbie fried chicken pieces on white plate.

Recipe Substitutions and Tips

Use this bar-b-fried chicken recipe for thighs, breasts, wings, and even chicken tenders.

Serving Suggestions and Tips

Serve barbie fry chicken with anything you’d pair barbecue chicken or fried chicken with. Here are my suggestions:

Rice – keep that island vibe going and pair this saucy fried chicken recipe with traditional Jamaican Rice and Peas or Easy Jamaican Pigeon “Gungo” Peas and Rice.
Fries – preparing this for kids? Recreate a fast food meal at home with some french fries or Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
Macaroni and Cheese – for some southern flair, you have to serve this chicken with baked mac and cheese.
Biscuits – keeping with southern tradition, you can never go wrong with barbecue fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.
Mashed Potatoes – for Sunday dinner, serve this barbecue chicken recipe with mashed potatoes and some veggies.

Recipe Notes and Tips for Success

Take the Chill Off – before cooking, remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes to take the chill off.
Remember to Marinate the Chicken – marinating for at least 30 minutes tenderizes the meat and makes it even more delicious.
Make Sure the Chicken is Done – chicken is cooked and safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 170°F (76°C). Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
Ditch the Paper Towel – allow chicken to rest on a wire rack instead of using paper towels as it can cause the chicken to steam, which will turn the exterior crispiness, soggy.

Can I Make this Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! The homemade barbecue sauce can be made up to one week in advance. After you make it allow it to cool to room temperature then store it in a mason jar in the fridge. The chicken can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover bar-b-fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat from frozen, let the chicken thaw overnight in the fridge. Then warm the chicken up in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. I would avoid the microwave so the chicken doesn’t get soggy. Alternatively, you can opt to reheat in the air-fryer!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you get BBQ to stick to chicken?

The key to getting barbecue sauce to adhere to chicken is adding the sauce after the chicken has cooked. Apply hot homemade BBQ sauce to cooked fried chicken and it will carmelize and stick to the chicken’s crevices.

How do you get a crispy coating on BBQ chicken?

The key to crispy fried chicken is cornstarch. Add that to your flour mixture and it will absorb moisture (which makes the chicken soggy) resulting in a delectable crunch every time.

What is the trick to frying chicken?

There are many key steps to frying chicken but I strongly suggest marinating the meat for at least 30 minutes, seasoning your flour, and using a wire rack to properly drain the fried chicken so it’s not too greasy.

Watch My Story Below for Step-by-Step Instructions

Interested in more Chicken Recipes? Check These Out!

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6 Comments

Lilith says:

August 23, 2023 at 10:06 pm

I followed this recipe with some minor tweaks and it was the best fried chicken I’ve ever made! (although it’s hard to go wrong with crispy fried chicken ;D) I used 5 pieces skin-on bone-in drums rather than the 6 pcs leg/thigh called for, so I was able to halve the recipe more or less. My seasoning mix was slightly different based on what I had on the shelf, but basically very similar – the chicken bouillon cube was 🔥! I also used a bit extra cornstarch in the flour mix, and I used homemade breadcrumbs rather than Panko (I think I could have used more breadcrumbs, it got lost in the mix and not much ended up on the final product). I think adding a bit of liquid like buttermilk to the flour mix to make a really sticky batter might have given some great results. Followed all instructions for frying exactly and it was so good! I tried one drum dipped in some leftover bbq sauce we had made a couple days before for ribs, so my sauce recipe was a bit different but similar. I found that I lost a lot of crispiness by coating in sauce, and we ended up eating the other drums plain/dipping in our bbq sauce and it was so perfect!! We served with roasted potatoes and sauteed green beans and it’s got to be one of my favorite meals I’ve ever made, and I cook a lot! Definitely making again. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, more people should learn about Barbie Fried! ❤️

1. Taneisha Morris says:
  
  August 26, 2023 at 7:50 pm
  
  WOW! Reading this truly warmed my heart. Thank you so much for leaving such as detailed and thoughtful review of this recipe. It’s means more than you know and I am so glad that you thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ❤️
  
Shaheen says:

September 17, 2023 at 10:31 am

Thanks for this spical dish recipe. Need more related recipe

1. Taneisha Morris says:
  
  September 19, 2023 at 9:16 pm
  
  You are so welcome! Thanks so much for the lovely feedback!
  
Susan says:

February 16, 2024 at 7:45 pm

I would love to make this but I don’t know what the ingredient Fried Chicken Oil and Crumbs are. Can you tell me

1. Taneisha Morris says:
  
  March 2, 2024 at 8:01 pm
  
  Hi Susan, when you fry the chicken – use 2tbsp of the oil and crumbs that are left over (in the oil used to fry the chicken) and add it to the sauce! 🙂 Good question!!